DONALD J. GRIMES

GENZ, GRIMES, TIMMERMAN, SALOW, WRIGHT, JACKSON, CONOLLY, KIEFFER, VEGA

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 4/16/2003 at 08:32:40

Donald J. Grimes

Telegraph Herald - Friday, April 4, 2003

Donald J. Grimes, 82, of 3140 Kaufmann Ave., died of natural causes Sunday, March 30, 2003, at the home of his daughters in Seatac, Wash.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Dubuque, Entombment will be in Resurrection Garden Mausoleum at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Dubuque, where military rites will be accorded by the Dubuque Marine Corps League and the Tri-States Vietnam Veterans Association. Friends may call from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Dennis Kitchen Funeral Home, 3860 Asbury Road, Dubuque, where there will be a St. Patrick's Catholic Church Parish Christian wake service at 5 p.m.

He was born on March 7, 1921, in Dubuque, son of LeRoy J. and Margaret (Genz) Grimes.

He married Lucille P. Ruh on June 30, 1945, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Don and Lu were happily married for more than 57 years and were loving and devoted parents.

He grew up in Dubuque and attended St. Columbkille's Grade School and High School. He was a member of St. Patrick's Church, Dubuque, and through the years he was involved in several different committees at the church.

He proudly served his country in the Marine Corps during World War II and saw extensive action on the islands of the Pacific.

Don worked for John Deere and was the first person to acquire 40 years of seniority by working exclusively at the Dubuque Works. During this time, he was very active in the union. He served the union as steward, chairman of the Skilled Trades Committee, trustee, financial secretary, and became an International Representative for the United Automobile Workers on June 1, 1969. Don's passion in life was clearly working for and serving his beloved union. He retired as international representative in 1987.

Don also was active in local politics. He has been a precinct committeeman and was on the Center Committee of the Democratic Party. He served a term as vice chairman of the Dubuque Democratic Party.

Surviving are his daughters, Patty Grimes and Kathy Timmerman, both of Seatac; four sons, Michael (Joyce), of Sequim, Wash., and David (Sherry), John (Sharon) and Steve, all of Dubuque; 10 grandchildren, Jessica Salow, Keri (Paul) Wright, Michelle (Jeremy) Jackson, Shannon Connolly, Melissa Timmerman, and Richard, Robert, Angie, Andy and Emily Grimes; nine great-grandchildren; brothers, the Rev. Raymond Grimes and John (Wally) Grimes; a sister, Margaret Kieffer; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille, on Dec. 11, 2002; his parents; and sisters, Ginny Grimes and Liz Vega.

The family wishes to thank Hospice of Dubuque and Hospice of Seattle for their caring help.